The ANROWS Report examines evidence about the links between domestic and family violence, alcohol and other drug issues and mental health issues in the context of child protection. It shows more robust evidence is needed about how these factors interact to increase the risk of poorer child outcomes.

Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS) has released a new report Critical interpretive synthesis: child protection involvement for families with domestic and family violence, alcohol and other drug issues, and mental health issues. The report presents the findings of a critical interpretive synthesis of literature from Australia and overseas, on the intersections of domestic and family violence (DFV), alcohol and other drug issues (AOD) and mental health issues in the context of child protection.

It concludes that further evidence is needed about how DFV, AOD and mental health interact with one another; how they operate at micro, meso and macro levels; and how they interact with broader factors to increase the risk of poorer child outcomes. The report was produced by a team of six researchers from the University of Sydney. The report is the first stage of a project which aims to inform the use of a public health model that can reduce risk and enhance protective factors at individual, family and community levels for children and families with intersecting DFV, AOD and mental health risk factors.